Clinching machine



July 12, 1949. H. LEV

GLINCHING MACHINE Filled Feb. 27, 1947 Patented July 12, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE CLINCHING MACHINE Harry Lev, Chicago, Ill.

Application February 27, 1947, Serial No. 731,3

9y Claims. l

invention. relates to a. machine adapted to assemble a metallic holder plate with the endless fratrie of- L- unifolfhiy cap. Itis desirable that such a plate be amxed to the cap frame at the iront to connect releasahly with a strut which upstand's to .support the can cover. InA assemfbling the plate with the cap frame; it is important that the one be accurately positioned with respect to the other, that the holder plate be ai'xed securely to the cap fiarne,` and' that in carrying out this operation successively on many caps the assembly' be uniform and dependable in every C3158.

For thev purposes above indicated, IV employ' a simple form ofi machine adapted to impale the cap frame upon a plurality of pointed tines which are extended outwardly from; the holder plate, and then, after impaliilg, clinch. these tilies, on the far sideI of the frame. This operation which takes place after the holder and 'cap frame have been correctlyv positioned olle with respect to the other. may be followed by aready` and facile removal from the' machiney of the assembled cap frame and. holder plate.

A suggestive embodiment of my invention is set forth in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is an; outline view, in side elevation, oi a foot-operated press whereon is mounted the parts of the present clinohing machine;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of. a conventional uniform cap showing in dotted lines the position of the holder plate whenv affixed to the frame thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view' in perspective of the holder plate designed tor animation to the cap frame;

Fig. 4 which is a view in perspective shows the principal parts of the clinching machine;

Figi. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section through the machine in its entirety;

Fig'. 6 is a fragmentary section Showing the cap frame with holder plate aiixed thereto as the assembly appears at the conclusion of the clinching operation; and

Fig.l i is a sectional detail view, taken on line 1==1 of Fig. 4.

The special problem for which the present machine has been developed is the clinching of certain tines t struck out from a bowed holder plate P, the purpose being to thereby secure the plate to the frame j (usually o f .fabric and liber 2 plies) ofy a uniform cap C. Such a holder plate, when. aiiixed to the cap frame at the front, is adapted to detachably receive between itself and certain oiset bands b the lower end of an upstanding strut by which. the cap cover is sup* ported in a raised position.

The present machine which performs such a tine-clinching operation comprises a base plate l0 xedly mounting at the real a T-block ha"n ing a forwardly extending abutment wall i l. Straddling this wall is a movable die block l5 having at its base outwardly extending anges l5 which are cooperatively engaged by guide bars i1 ailixed to the base plate'. In some such way as this I provide means for assuringthat movements of the die block upon the base plate will he in a straight line forwardly and rearwardly toward` and from the T-block.

The die block is slotted forwardly from its rear face to provide a channel having its base face 2| inclined rearwardly (see Fig. 5) for cooperative engagement from a similarly inclined face 22 at the lower end of a ram 23 which is carried at the lower end of a rod 24 which is mounted for vertical reciprocation in the head 25 of a press having a conventional treadle-opel'ated bell crank 26. With each down stroke of the ram, the die block is advanced forwardly against the tension of springs 28, one extending along each side of the die block to connect at its front with a cross pih 29 projecting laterally therefrom and at its rear with a pin 30 which is anchored to the T-block. The forward face of the abutment wall l I may be provided with an inclined undercut at 3| to accommodate the inclined rear face 2| of the die block, thereby to increase its movement range, and for a like reason there may be an opening 32 in the base plate to accommodate the bottom end of the ram when in its lowermost position.

The acting front face 3E of the die block is here shown as inwardly bowed or concave in a transverse direction to conform to the acting outwardly bowed face 31 of an aligned enacting anvil block 38 which is disposed opposite thereu to and slightly spaced therefrom. The anvil block 38 is provided at its front with a laterally extended head 39 having near each end an opening through which is tted a rearwardly extend ing threaded stud bolt 40. As by means of stud 3 bolts @I (see Fig. the anvil block 38 is secured xedly to the base plate I0.

The anvil block lies between two companion blocks d5, each in the form of a quadrant, and both surmounted by a common top plate 46 of semi-circular form. As by means of stud bolts i? the top plate is xedly connected to the two quadrant blocks, thereby joining them into a single unit which I shall refer to collectively as a positioning form. Within each quadrant `lock is a bore 43 extending from its forward face parallel with the anvil block 38 and opposite one of the stud bolts it for reception thereof. Sur* rounding each stud bolt 4U so as to be supported thereby is a compression spring de adapted to exert a thrust force against the inner end of the bore it whereby the positioning form is normally urged in a direction of the die block I5 and are rested by an arcuate stop rin-g 5@ that is anchored to the base plate.

The top plate 45 which desirably is beveled at 5l along its curved peripheryvis adapted also to overlie the head 39 of the anvil block 38. This plate may be marked with an arrow 53 at the midpoint of its periphery which is directly opposite the center of the die block I5. Desirably also a slot 5e is extended radially of the top plate at its center to accommodate a stud 55 which is screw threaded into the anvil block, the head 55 of this stud being disposed upon the top face of the plate. By this means the anvil block and top plate are locked against separation, but withm out interfering with movement of the positioning form toward and from the die block I5.

lin operation, a holder plate P is fitted to the acting face 31 of the anvil block 38 wherein are provided cross channels G for reception of the bars b which are offset from the plate. Normally the acting face of the anvil block is recessed with respect to the adjacent faces of the quadrant blocks @5, so that the holder plate is accommodated within this recess. When the holder plate is operatively positioned, the tines t will be extended outwardly toward the die block in whose acting face 36 are formed cam pockets 5I, one opposite each tine. The endless frame f of a cap C is then fitted over the top plate and down around the positioning form so as to lie in part within the narrow space between the die and anvil blocks. In practice, a small locating mark (not shown) Iwill be carried by the welt of the cap frame at exactly its front center point. The cap frame may then be accurately centered by positioning this mark opposite the center arrow 53. With the holder and frame thus arranged, the tines t stand opposite the frame and die block ready to be driven through the frame and be clinched upon the far side thereof. This operation takes place in consequence of a forced descent of the ram which drives the die block I5 forwardly to impale the cap frame f upon the tines t whose tips, upon engaging the cam pockets Si, are then laterally turned and clinched there by. 1n this operation the positioning form is free to recede relative to the die block I5, counter to tension of the springs 49, as required for complete impaling of the tines t through the cap frame f and clinching of the tine tips upon the far side thereof.

It will be observed that by the straddling arrangement which permits the anvil block to guide the positioning form in its reciprocations, the acting face of the anvil block is normally recessed so as to accommodate therein the holder plate when it is to be operated upon. When so positioned, the outset bands b of the holder plate may lie within the channels 5I), as best shown in Fig. 6, permitting the body of the plate to rest against the face of the anvil block. This is important because it safeguards the outset bands against pressure during the ensuing clinching operation, whereby to prevent any distortion or displacement thereof. Also the springs 69, in urging the positioning form in a direction toward the die block I5 to a position beyond the acting face of the anvil block, act to shift the cap frame, together with its assembled holder plate, away from the anvil block, thereby freeing the cap frame at the conclusion of each operation for ready removal from olf the positioning form. This is advantageous because I thereby provide, in effect, an ejector which facilitates removal of the work at the conclusion of each operation.

The entire mechanism herein disclosed is exceedingly simple and sturdy, and will withstand hard service over a prolonged period. There is no uncertainty-about the position of the cap plate relative to the holder plate which is to be axed thereto, since there is a visual guide for assisting in the placement of the cap frame and a positive accommodating recess for positioning of the holder plate. For this reason, as well as because the operation of impaling and clinching the tines will be performed with certainty and uniformity with each operation of the mechanism, the successive assembly of cap frames and head plates may proceed with dispatch and with a minimum of eiort.

T. claim:

l. Means for assembling with a cap frame a holder plate having a plurality of outstanding tines, comprising a stationary anvil block, a ren ciprocable positioning form straddling the anvil block for guidance thereby, spring means urging the positioning form ahead of the acting face of the anvil block whereby the position of the latter is recessed to accommodate therein the holder plate with its tines outwardly extended, a mov able die block having its acting face formed with cam pockets disposed oppositely of the tines when the holder plate is positioned operatively7 upon the anvil block, and normally spaced therefrom a distance suihcient to accommodate therebetween cap frame when fitted over thepositioning forni, and means for reciprocating the die block toward and from the anvil block to initially engage the cap frame for impaling the same upon the holder tines and then to engage the protruding tines in the cam pockets whereby to laterally deiiect and crimp the tips thereof upon the cap frame.

2. Means for assembling with a cap frame a holder plate having a plurality of outstanding tines, comprising a stationary anvil block, a reciprocable positioning form including a block on each side of the anvil block and a top plate connecting the two side blocks in unitary relation for reciprocable movement lengthwise of the anvil block, spring means urging the positioning form ahead of the acting face of the anvil block whereby the position of the latter is recessed to accommodate therein the holder plate with its tines outwardly extended, a movable die block having its acting face formed with cam pockets disposed oppositely of the tines when the holder plate is positioned operatively upon the anvil block, and normally spaced therefrom a distance suilicient to accommodate therebetween the cap frame when tted over the positioning form, and means for reciprocating the die block toward and from the anvil block to initially7 engage the cap frame for impaling the same upon the holder tines and then to engage the protruding tines in the cam pockets whereby to laterally deflect crimp the tips thereof upon the cap frame.

3. Means for assembling with a cap frame a holder plate having a plurality of outstanding tines, comprising a stationary anvil block, a positioning form straddling the anvil for guidance thereby, compression springs carried by the anvil block and extending in parallelism toward the positioning form to exert thereagainst a thrust force acting to move the positioning form ahead of the acting face of the anvil block, whereby the position of the latter is recessed to accommodate therein the holder plate with its tines outwardly extended, a movable die block having its acting face formed with cam pockets disposed oppositely of the tines when the holder plate is positioned operatively upon the anvil block, and normally spaced therefrom a distance suihcient to accommodate therebetween the cap frame when fitted over the positioning form, and means for re ciprocating the die block toward and from the anvil block to initially engage the cap frame for impaling the same upon the holder tines and then to engage the protruding tines in the cam pockets whereby to laterally deflect and crimp the tips thereof upon the cap frame.

4. Means for assembling with a cap frame a holder plate having a plurality of outstanding tines, comprising an anvil block, a positioning form including a block on each side of the anvil block and a top plate interconnecting the two side blocks in unitary relation, means providing a normally inseparable sliding connection between the anvil block and the positioning :form whereby one, when moved relative to the other, is guided thereby, spring means urging the positioning form ahead of the acting face of the anvil block if whereby the position of the latter is recessed to accommodate therein the holder plate with its tines outwardly extended, a movable die block having its acting face formed with cam pockets disposed oppositely of the tines when the holder plate is positioned operatively upon the anvil block, and normally spaced therefrom a distance suicient to accommodate therebetween the cap frame when fitted over the positioning form, and means for reciprocating the die block toward and from the anvil block to initially engage the cap frame for impaling the same upon the holder tines and then to engage the protruding tines in the cam pockets whereby to laterally deilect and crimp the tips thereof upon the capframe.

5. Means for assembling with a cap frame a holder plate having a plurality of outstanding tines, comprising a stationary anvil block, a reciprocable positioning form straddling the anvil block for guidance thereby, spring means urging the positioning form ahead of the acting face of the anvil block whereby the position of the latter is recessed to accommodate therein the holder plate with its tines outwardly extended, means providing a stop to limit movement of the positioning form in one direction, a movable die block having its acting face formed with cam pockets disposed oppositely of the tines when the holder plate is positioned operatively upon the anvil block, and normally spaced therefrom a distance sufcient to accommodate therebetween the cap frame when tted over the positioning form, and means for reciprocating the die block toward and from the anvil block to initially engage the cap frame for impaling the same upon the holder tines and then to engage the protruding tines in the cam pockets whereby to laterally deflect and crimp the tips thereof upon the cap frame.`

6; Means for assembling with a cap frame a holder plate having a band outset from one face thereof and a plurality of tines outstanding from its opposite face, comprising a stationary anvil block, a reciprocable positioning form straddling the anvil block for guidance thereby, spring means urging the positioning form ahead of the acting face of the anvil block whereby the posin tion of the latter is recessed to accommodate therein the holder plate with its tines outwardly extended, there being a channel in the acting face of the anvil block to accommodate the band out set from the holder plate, a movable die block having its acting face formed with cam pockets disposed oppositely of the tines when the holder plate is positioned operatively upon the anvil block, and normally spaced therefrom a distance sufficient to accommodate therebetween the cap frame when fitted over the positioning form, and means for reciprocating the die block toward and from the anvil block to initially engage the cap frame for impaling the same upon the holder tines and then to engage the protruding tines in the cam pockets whereby to laterally deflect and crimp the tips thereof upon the cap frame.

7. Means for assembling with a cap frame a holder plate having a plurality of outstanding tines, comprising an anvil block, a positioning form extending upon opposite sides of the anvil block, spring means for producing relative reciprocable movement between the anvil block and the positioning form whereby the position of the acting face of the anvil block is normally recessed to accommodate therein the holder plate with its tines outwardly extended, a movable die block having an acting face disposed oppositely of the tines when the holder plate is positioned operatively upon the anvil block and normally spaced therefrom a distance suilicient to accommodate therebetween the cap frame when tted over the positioning form, and means for producing a relative back and forth movement between the die block and the anvil block to engage opposite faces of the cap frame for impaling the same upon the holder tines.

8. Means for assembling with a cap frame a holder plate having a plurality of outstanding tines, comprising a die block and a coacting anvil block one movable toward and from the other which is stationary and each having a complementary acting face opposite the other and normally spaced therefrom, a positioning form extending upon opposite sides of the anvil block, spring means for producing relative reciprocable movement between the positioning form and the anvil block whereby the acting face of the latter is normally recessed to accommodate therein the holder plate with its tines outwardly extended. the spacing between the acting faces of the two blocks, when one is moved away from the other, being suicient to accommodate therebetween the cap frame when tted over the positioning form, and means for causing the movable block to successively advance toward and recede from the stationary block to engage opposite faces of the cap frame whereby to impale the same upon the holder tines.

9. Means for assembling with a cap frame a holder plate having a plurality of outstanding tines, comprising a die block and a coacting anvil block one movable toward and from the other and each having a complementary acting face I opposite the other and normally spaced therefrom, a positioning form extending upon opposite sides of the anvil block, spring means for producing relative movement between the positioning form and the anvil block whereby the acting face of the latter is normally recessed to accommodate therein the holder plate with its tines outwardly extended, the spacing between the acting faces of the two blocks, when one is moved away from the other, being sumcient to accommodate therebetween the cap frame when fitted over the positioning form, and means for moving one block toward and from the other to cause a successive closing and opening of the space between their acting faces whereby the cap frame intermediately thereof is impaled upon the holder tines.

HARRY LEV.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,846,007 Levine Feb. 16, 1932 1,955,790 Cheney Apr.` 24, 1934 

